Piolets d'Or Nominees Announced

Late Norwegian alpinist among finalists

A Norwegian alpinist who died last week and an American expedition to the world's second-highest unclimbed mountain are among the six nominees for this year's Piolets d'Or, the award for the year's best alpine ascents. The jury, headed up by Alpinist Editor-in-Chief Michael Kennedy, announced finalists for the award yesterday in a press release. The most notable climber named is Norwegian Bjorn-Eivind Artun, who was nominated for his ascent of Torre Egger's south face with Ole Lied. Artun and partner Stein-Ivar Gravdal died in a rockfall accident last week while attempting a new route up Kjerag in Lysefjorden, Norway. Other nominees include Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk for the first ascent of Meru's Shark's Fin, Mark Richey, Steve Swenson, and Freddie Wilkenson for their ascent of Saser Kangri II, previously the world's second-highest unclimbed peak, and Denis Urubko and Gennadiy Durov for their new route up Pik Pobeda in Kyrgyzstan.

Our Mission

To inspire active participation in the world outside through award-winning coverage of the sports, people, places, adventure, discoveries, health and fitness, gear and apparel, trends and events that make up an active lifestyle.